GRECIANS RESPONSE THRILLS TISDALE
PAUL Tisdale admits he got the perfect response from his Exeter side after they put their promotion dream back on track.
The Grecians boss delivered a damning assessment of his side’s 3-1 defeat against Crawley in the week, claiming it was one of their worst performances in the last three years.
But the Grecians bounced back in emphatic style by ending Accrington’s seven-game unbeaten run thanks to goals from Hiram Boateng and Pierce Sweeney.
Exeter’s seventh home win of the campaign moves them to within a point of Stanley and manager Tisdale wants his side to kick on.
He said: “After the dire performance at Crawley we needed a response and we got one. We needed to get back in touch with the top three so this was a big match.
“We are not there yet but we are back in contention and we it to stay that way heading towards Christmas.
“It was an open game and we scored at a really good time at the end of the first half.
“We could have scored one or two more but I am really happy with 2-0.
“The players were determined and focused and that carried us through."
Exeter came flying out of the traps with Troy Brown heading wide, Jake Taylor lashing over the top and Liam McAlinden dragging an effort past the far post.
Boateng was marginally off target after dancing his way into the Stanley box and Taylor rattled the crossbar with a fierce effort. Stanley’s best chance of the opening 45 minutes came as Sean McConville picked out the unmarked Mark Hughes and his header was gathered by Christy Pym. But Exeter grabbed the opener in first-half stoppage time when Jayden Stockley pulled the ball back for Boateng to rifle the ball into the roof of the net.
After the break McAlinden wasted a golden chance to stretch Exeter’s lead after racing clear only to shoot straight at Aaron Chapman.
The Stanley keeper rescued his side by clawing away Dean Moxey’s angled drive before producing another smart save to thwart McAlinden.
But Exeter were awarded a penalty on 86 minutes after Hughes bundled into Stockley and Sweeney made no mistake from the spot.
Accrington boss John Coleman apologised to the 98 visiting supporters who made the 540-mile round trip to Exeter.
He said: “I feel for the fans who have paid a lot of money and given up their time because what we served up in the first half was not acceptable.
“So I want to apologise to them. There was a lack of urgency and we looked very lethargic. I was very disappointed with the performance and I can have no complaints with the result.
“Exeter were better in every department and we are capable of playing a lot better than that.”